Images of our industrial past ...... nu 2 working the metal 80 years ago

I am back with two more “lost images” from the family collection.

I have no idea who this man was and can only guess that it was either my grandfather or one of his work mates.

Moreover I cannot date the pictures or offer up a location, other than that they will be over 80 years old.
If it is my grandfather then it will be Derby and a rare moment when he was in full time work.

According to my mother like many men during the period he faced long bouts of unemployment which only really came to an end with the outbreak of the Second World War.

Sadly there is no one left I can ask who could tell me about the pictures, and I of course never bothered to ask what he did during the interwar years.

So we are left with just one man at work, sometime in the 1930s in all probability somewhere in Derby.

But that said I am drawn to them, not least because both carry fingerprints which were left on these two negatives.

Not that I will ever be able to discover who they belonged or why the prints have long since vanished but the these negatives survived.

But then that is often the case.

The prints get handed around or put into a book while the negatives are stored away just in case they are needed.

Of course that is seldom the case, but that simple decision means they will survive long after the cherished print has gone.
Pictures, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

When there are no clues left to the identities on a family snap

Now I will never know who any of these men are.

I am guessing they were friends and work mates of my grandfather and I think I can identify him but the others are lost in time.

And the images themselves could very well have also been lost.

I came across them in a collection of old photographs, letters and bills.

Of course on one level there is nothing special about them, most of us will have similar collections tucked away half forgotten and pretty much a mystery.

Most of us never take the time to write a name and add a date on the back and within a generation the identity of the people and the significance of the event are unknown.

More so as in this case these images were not even prints, instead they were negatives, which I scanned with little expectation that they would amount to much.

More so because they will date from the 1930s.

The best I can come up with is that they are Derby where my grandparents settled after the Great War.

There may be a clue in the shop name which I managed to reverse in scanning and in the large painted sign.
Four or five years ago someone suggested a link to a factory in Derby but I never followed it up.

So now these men stare back at me stubbornly providing no clues as to who they were, or when they posed for the camera.

All of which makes this I suppose one of those “non stories” but then it is family and that continues to exercise my interest.

And reminds me of that simple but most important point that you should always name and date a picture.

But then I am as guilty as my parents on that score.

So having done the public announcement I shall leave you with these images of men at work sometime over 80 years ago.

Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Looking for Mr Waller, wealthy industrialist of Didsbury, benefactor of Withington Methodist Chapel and owner of 45 Dale Street

Groombridge House, 1894

One day I will find an estate agents description of Groombridge House which stood on the site of Christie Hospital.

That said I haven’t yet been able to locate a picture of the place which I guess is not surprising.

It was set back from the main road in spacious grounds with tree lined walks and a fair number of outhouses and was the home of Mr Ralph Waller, wealthy cotton spinner and benefactor of the Wesleyan chapel in Withington.

Now I had promised myself that his would be one of the homes I went looking for ever since I came across his factory and shows rooms which stretched along Tariff Street and on to Dale Street.

I am not quite sure whether Mr Waller built the block but he owned them by 1858 and they were still in the family’s possession over 40 years later.

By then his textile business seems to have shrunk and the showrooms and part of the factory were rented out to other businesses.

But it will have been this textile enterprise which had allowed him to buy and rent out properties in Withington and Didsbury as well as acquiring Groombridge House.

I can’t as yet discover whether he built it or just bought it but it was a striking statement of his prosperity.

It had 19 rooms a rateable value of £230 with an additional assessment of £11 for the surrounding land and dominated the corner of Wilmslow Road opposite the old green.

And it continued to dominate that spot until it was demolished to make way for the Christie Hospital which was “to be built in the grounds of Groombridge House.”*

Withington Methodist Church 2015

All of which means I missed Mr Waller’s house by over 80 years but not to be short changed there is still the church he made a major contribution to.  This is the Methodist Church close by Withington Library which was built in 1865 with a huge contribution from our Mr Waller.

And along with the building there are his reported words made at the laying of the foundation stone in the August of 1864.

His was a long and rather  detailed speech which ranged over all that Britain could be proud of, from the “Queen and our institutions, the civil and religious liberty and impartial administration” down to “our almshouses our infirmaries, our hospitals our mechanical genius our magnificent warehouses and factories” and much more.

But at the heart of the delivery was a strong religious note which focused on “our open bible our Protestant Christianity and the many thousands of places of worship that stud the land.” **

It isn’t perhaps the most fashionable of things to say today but rereading it is to get a sense of the man long after Groombridge House has vanished.

45 Dale Street, 1972

And there are still a few places which bring you close to him.  One is his first textile mill in Glossop which he occupied briefly in the 1850s and is still standing and the other is no 45 Dale Street which for almost40 years was his showroom and warehouse.

I doubt that there is anything left in what was the factory on Tariff Street but I know there could be a few clues in number 45.

And as the building is currently being renovated to reopen later in the year as Tariff and Dale I have the promise of exploring the place while that work is underway.

The owner of the new business who also owns the Lead Station in Chorlton made the offer recently and it will be one I want to take up.

So while I can no longer stand outside his house I might just be able to get a little closer to a bit of history.

Pictures; detail showing Groombridge House 1894, from the OS of South Lancashire 1894, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://www.digitalarchives.co.uk/ Withington Church, 2015 courtesy of Withington Methodist Church, http://www.withingtonmethodistchurch.com/ and 45 Dale Street, 1972, L Kaye,m01240, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?

*In Manchester, the Manchester Guardian, May 16 1929.

**New Wesleyan Chapel at Withington, Manchester Guardian, August 22 1864

A printing press ..... a river and the future …… Cambridge Street

The story of the Hotspur Press on Cambridge Street is well documented.

And there will be many people who have watched the surrounding streets slowly transform from run down reminders of our industrial past to bright tall office and residential properties.

So, this week Andy was back walking the familiar route, following the bend in the River Medlock, and clocking the changes.

The two images I have chosen perfectly capture this spot.

The first mixes Hotspur House with the tall buildings behind it and point to that simple observation that the city continues to change.

I am not always a keen fan of the tall blocks that are rising everywhere, particularly those that seem to defy gravity and make the human figure look miniscule.

But then I doubt I would signed up to that burst of new build which spread across Manchester in the early 19th century.

And no doubt I would have railed against the enclosing of the “sweet flowing rivers” by tall factories and warehouses, and worse by hiding them in brick built tunnels.

The end of the city’s first Industrial Revolution has begun to open up those rivers again, but there is still plenty of evidence of that past.

Location; Cambridge Street

Pictures; Hotspur House and the river, 2021, from the collection of Andy Robertson

A bit of our industrial past ....... walking towards Collyhurst

Now if like me you were born in the first half of the last century, grew up with free school milk, thrilled to the sound of She Loves You, and thought the light had gone out of the world at hearing of the death of Ottis Reading and Dr King, then the de-industrialization of great chunks of east and north Manchester will be familiar.

When I lived off Grey Mare Lane in the early 1970s, there were still plenty of steel and engineering works, and if Bradford Colliery had closed there was still Clayton Aniline and a host of small workshops, garages and yards within walking distance of our house.

But in the following two decades pretty much all of it has gone.

All of which makes Andy’s picture of one of the gates posts at the Oldham Road Goods Yard both sad and a reminder of what we have lost.

Not that this is nostalgic trip aimed to call back a golden age.  Working down the mine or in a foundry could he hard and at times dangerous and the rewards were not always that good, but it was how many of us derived a living.

Location; Manchester

Picture; gate post, 2018, from the collection of Andy Robertson

Just what has been going on down at Warwick Road South? ......... now that’s another zippy title

I am ever ready for more pictures from Warwick Road South and Andy Robertson in the interests of archaeological history obliged with this one he sent yesterday.

It is another from his ongoing project to record what is quickly vanishing.

Like many I guess the passing of this building will not rank a footnote in the industrial heritage books of Trafford.

But it was a place where people went everyday, earned a living and for that it shouldn’t go without a comment.

The history of the building was researched by Andy when he first stumbled over the place back in 2014.

He was back a year later after the site had been cleared and a big sign announced “Quality Homes for rent” which the developers added would be “60 Apartments for affordable rent.”

And as Andy’s new picture shows, progress is well under way.

The land was long ago broken, the foundations are in and the walls are going up.

So watch this space because in the next few months Any will return to document the transformation of another bit of where we live.


Pictures; Warwick Road South, 2014, 2016, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Gone and soon to be forgotten ......... on Warwick Road South, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/gone-and-soon-to-be-forgotten-on.html

The continuing story of an unloved 19th century warehouse on Hulme Hall Road ......... "now totally JCB clear."

I keep thinking we will soon come to an end of the story of that warehouse on Hulme Hall Road.

It was partially damaged by fire last year, was the subject of an article  in the Manchester Evening News and regularly appears here on the blog.

It was a pretty unremarkable building not particularly liked by some who worked there and I doubt will ever be even a foot note in our industrial history.

But that has not stopped Andy Robertson charting its story from the day after the fire through the various stages of its demolition.

And yesterday his daughter Cathy added this picture to the story to which Andy added, “this was taken by Cathy today. The land is now totally JCB clear.”

All of which promises a new set of pictures from the both of them as the builders get to work, breaking the ground and creating something new.

I haven’t had time to search the Corporation’s online planning applications to see what that might be but from memory there is already an application in for a new residential development of 164 apartments at Pomona Wharf/Pomona Island.

So we shall see.

Location Hulme, Manchester

Picture; the site of the warehouse, 2016 from the collection of Cathy Robertson

The continuing story of an unloved 19th century warehouse on Hulme Hall Road

I last featured the story of that warehouse in December.

And now that the weather has improved Andy Robertson was back continuing that unique record of the end of an undistinguished building.

As far as I know it has never warranted a survey, no historian has dug into its past and so far just a few people have owned up to working there.

So for all those reasons I think Andy’s project has been an important one and a few days ago he sent me the latest batch of pictures commenting that there have been  “further developments at Excelsior.  Half the canal side wall has now gone as has that big bit of vertical metal sticking out.

I spent ages watching the  JCB lifting and dropping this 50foot+ length of metal, but  could not understand the logic,  then realised this was an attempt to dislodge the concrete from the metal. 

A few pieces fell off during the vigil.”

All of which just leaves me to say watch this space and in the fullness of time demolition will give way to a building site and in a matter of years few will remember what once stood beside the canal.

Location; Hulme, Hall Road, Manchester

Pictures; from the Hulme Hall Road project, 2016, courtesy of Andy Robertson

When you get it wrong ........ just own up ........ the corrected story of J & S Eyres of Miles Platting

Now I like the way that in the course of just 24 hours a story about a humble street drain cover excites a fair bit of interest and along the way corrects a little of what I had originally written and adds even more.*

J & S Eyres, Lord Street, 1963

It was Graham’s picture of a 1936 street grid that led me to J and S Eyres who made it.

They were a Manchester firm founded in 1897 and in 1911 were operating on Lord Street, Miles Platting and filed their last set of accounts in 1987.

At which stage I confess I got the wrong Lord Street citing the one near Strangeways which everyone knows is not Miles Platting.  Well everyone but me.

And so I have Edward Ball to thank for correcting me.  He very gently pointed out my mistake, offered up some pictures and thought that they might still be in business.

The street grid that started it all off, 1936

This was confirmed by Peter L Quinn who added that he had worked there for five years.

So there you have it which just leave me to thank Edward and Peter and hope that  this is just the start of the continuing story of J & S Eyres which in time will allow me to offer an update to the entry in Grace’s Guide to Industrial History.**

Location; Miles Plating, Manchester,




Pictures, Lord Street, showing J and S Eyres, 1963, T Brooks, m30010, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass and that street grid, 1936, courtesy of Graham Gill

*Street grids I have known part 2 ................... the story of J and S Eyres of Miles Platting, Manchester, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2016-02-01T03:30:00Z&max-results=7

** Grace’s Guide to Industrial History,  http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page

Gazing into the secrets of that warehouse on Hulme Hall Road .............. what Andy Robertson uncovered

There is always something quite fascinating about the partially demolished buildings from our industrial past.

Much of what is on display as the building falls to the demolition ball would never usually be seen by all but a handful of people which makes the next brace of pictures from Andy Robertson so interesting.

They are of that building on Hulme Hall Road which was damaged by a fire in the summer and is now all but gone.

He was back on Friday and recorded this scene of the basement and immediately I am drawn into the bits and pieces of the building.

It starts with those large lumps of bricks and stone which have tumbled from a vanished floor and moves on to the pipes and cables and the white washed walls and finishes with the arches which were utilized in many different ways including a lavatory.

And then there is that door still hanging on its hinges but offering no explanation for what it once enclosed.

Of course any one walking along the canal and crossing that bridge would have no idea of what existed just beyond the wall, and very soon all of what Andy has recorded will also be gone.

Pictures; from the Hulme Hall Road project, 2015, courtesy of Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 13 .......the Turville

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“The Turville.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 12 .......that canal inlet showing rear of Ellesmere Street

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“That canal inlet showing rear of Ellesmere Street.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 11 .......Bridgewater Canal and St Georges Island

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“Bridgewater Canal and St Georges Island.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 10 .......at the wall of the Excelsior

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“At the wall of the Excelsior.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 9 ....... from the Canal looking to Hulme Hall Road

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“From the Canal looking to Hulme Hall Road.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 10 ....... on the canal under Hulme Hall Bridge looking to town

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“On the canal under Hulme Hall Bridge looking to town.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 8 ....... view of St George's flats

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“A view of St Georges flats.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson

A little bit of our steam history and a nod to Matthew Boulton

Now the Age of Steam covered a big chunk of our industrial history  ranging from the first steam driven water pumps to Boulton & Watts’ all purpose machine which drove the Industrial Revolution and finished for me with the railway locomotive.

And along the way there were steam rollers, travelling threshing machines and all those vehicles that plied our roads until the petrol powered lorry came along.

Most of those I have totally ignored.
So while I long ago fell in love with the steam locomotive and have marvelled at those stationary machines that worked the coal mines, the textile mills and even Tower Bridge the ones that travelled the countryside and chugged along through our towns and cities were pretty much ignored by me.

All of which was a shame, for no busy Corporation Clerk of Works would have got far without a steam roller nor the Edwardian farmer who saw the potential for reducing labour costs by embracing steam over horsepower and I doubt that fun fairs would have been so attractive without a traction engine to run the glittering lights and roundabouts.

So because I have tended to miss these out here is a picture posted recently by David Harrop which I like because there is the twist in the story.

Look closely and you can see that our old steam relics are lugging a diesel loco.

Now that is a nice touch and I hope David will turn up more from his vast collection.

I have no idea when it was taken or where but I bet he will tell me which just leaves me to ad that when Matthew Boulton was asked by King George III what he die he replied "Sire I sell what all the world desires ............. power."

Picture; courtesy of Roy Pinches and in memory of the late Michael Oliver

A bit of Little Italy on Warwick Road South ............ another project from Andy Robertson

Never ever be surprised at how little bits of our history can turn up in the most unexpected places.

That said I am rarely surprised at Andy Robertson’s ability to turn up those bits of history which others have so totally missed.

So last weekend while out on Warwick Road South he came up with a fascinating bit of industrial history which has links with Little Italy and Manchester’s ice cream past.

And not to out change Andy I will leave the rest to him and his links to one of my favourite bits of our city’s story.

“I decide to take these of Warwick Road South yesterday as it was nice light and nobody about. 

Then I noticed a sign on the rear of a building on Ayres Road for The International Wafer Company. 

Presumably this sign was pretty much hidden when the other buildings were there. 

It was founded by Domenico Antonelli, an immigrant from Italy, in 1912. 

In 1926 they moved to this purpose built building on Ayres Road.

Check out The Antonelli Story -- Little Italy on the  internet.*

Also there is an excellent aerial photo of the brand new building on Trafford Lifetimes site, aerial view of Old Trafford, 1926.”**

And that is it.

Other than to say the entrance is still an impressive way into an ice cream factory.













Pictures;  The International Wafer Company, November 2015 from the collection of Andy Robertson

* The Antonelli Story, http://www.ancoatslittleitaly.com/antonelli.html

** Trafford Lifetimes,  https://apps.trafford.gov.uk/TraffordLifetimes/

Walking Cornbrook and on till morning part 7 ....... canal just past Excelsior looking to Pomona

Now I have decided to follow one of Andy Robertson’s walks from Cornbrook.  

It’s an area which has been much neglected but is on the cusp of change.

I could go in detail about the history of the place but instead will post just the picture and Andy’s accompanying comment.

One a day till I run out of images.

“Canal just past Excelsior looking to Pomona.”

Picture; from the Cornbrook collection 2015, by Andy Robertson